Carpet sweeper casing



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 17, 1944 Oct. 20, 1953 B. R THIELE CARPET SWEEPER CASING Original Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARPET SWEEPER CASING Berthold R. Thiele, Ripon, Wis., assignor to Speed Queen Corporation, Ripon, Wis., a corporation of Delaware 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to carpet sweepers of the type having a rotatable brush disposed within a translatable casing for sweeping dust from a carpet or the like into dust pans carried by the casing.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved casing for a sweeper of the type described.

Another object is to provide a novel sweeper casing which is so designed and constructed that cooperating parts of the sweeper are completely protected by the casing so as to prevent marring of furniture. A related object is to provide a casing of this character which is so constructed that the sweeper bail may be readily attached to and detached from the casing.

An additional object is to provide a novel sweeper casing which is especially adapted for permitting convenient access to control elements on the sweeper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sweeper casing construction which is more economical to manufacture, certain parts being susceptible of being fabricated in different forms without affecting the remaining parts.

A more specific object is to provide a sweeper casing of the above character which has an attractive appearance as well as improved functional attributes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a small scale plan view of a sweeper embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a small scale end view of the sweeper showing the operating handle and bail in the upright position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 33 of Fig. 2, with certain sweeper parts left out for-clarity in illustration.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 1, with the sweeper brush left out for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the left end of line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and w g a m d fied for of casing cover.

. 2 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 7.

The present case is a divisional application directed to an invention, the subject matter of which is fully disclosed in my copending application, serial No. 563,845, filed November 17, 1944, now Patent No. 2,602,175. 1 Referring more particularly to the drawings,

. the sweeper, Figs. 1 and 2, forming the instant embodiment of the invention, comprises a translatable casing H adapted to be moved back and forth over a carpet or the like by means of a handle l2 piovtally connected to the casing by a bail I3. The casing is adapted to be supported above the carpet by means of floor wheels [4, Figs. 2 and 5. As fully described in my aboveidentified copending application, the wheels It also serve to drive an elongated sweeper brush l5 (Figs. 2 and 5) to sweep dust from the carpet into dust pans l 6, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, mounted in the casing II on opposite sides of the brush. It will be understood that the sweeper is of generally symmetrical construction and that structural elements appearing at one end or side of the sweeper find their counterparts at the opposite end or side of the sweeper.

. The present invention is concerned primarily with the construction of the casing H and the adaptation of the casing for cooperation with related sweeper 'parts. The basic frame of the casing is formed by two parallel rails ll extending horizontally across the respective sides of the sweeper and adjoined near their opposite ends to vertical end plates [9, Figs. 4 and 6. Connection of the side rails IT to the end plates is provided for by forming two receses 20 in the inner face of each side rail disposed inwardly a short distance from the opposite ends of the respective rails and located in position to receive the contiguous sections of marginal flanges 2| formed on the respective end plates I9.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the lower edges of the end plates l9 are generally straight and extend downwardly approximately to the plane of the lower edges of the side rails ll. In the preferred construction, a centrally located, vertically extending slot 23 is provided in each end plate I5, Figs. 3 and 4, the slots being open at their lower ends to facilitate assembly into the slots of opposite ends of a brush assembly (shown in Figs. 2 and 5). The marginal edge portions of the slots are inwardly flanged to form guides for maintaining the brush assembly in position.

Lugs or pins 24 are provided on the inner face of each end plate, Figs. 3, 4 and 6, for pivotally supporting the dust pans l6 for pivotal movement into and out of closed position. The opposite side rails I! are each provided with an inwardly facing elongated notch 30, the notches being adapted to receive the outer lips 3| of the respective dust pans IS.

The dust pans ii are normally maintained in closed position by two generally U-shaped dust pan control springs respectively at opposite ends of the pans, Figs. 3, 4, and 6. As fully described in my copending application, previously identified, each spring 25 has two vertical legs connected at upper ends by an intermediate transverse section 26 offset outwardly from the dust pans, Figs. 3 and 6, in convenient position to be grasped by the operator andmoved up-. wardly to dump the dust pans, as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 4.

Each casing end plate i9 is adapted for supporting its dust pan spring 25 through the provision of upper and lower guides 28, 29 for each vertical leg of the spring. Eaeh of the upper guides 28, Figs. 3 and 6, is integrally formed'on its end plate by depressing a small section of the plate inwardly from the plane of the plate and shearing the distorted section along its lower edge from the undisturbed body of the plate. Guides formed in this manner also provide openings in the end plates l9 through which intermediate portions of the springs extend outwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The lower guides 29 comprise suitable brackets or the like.

Referring again to the end walls IE, it will be observed from Fig. 4 that the upper edges of the walls are generally arched in shape. The marginal flanges 2 I, previously referred to, extend all the way along these upper edges of the plates from one side rail i1 to the other, Figs. 3 and f The casing frame thus formed, comprising the side rails and end plates, is adaptedto support in assembled relationship'therewith an upwardly bowed cover plate 32 having end edges generally conforming in shape to the upper edges of the end plates 19, Fig, 4.

By reason of the novel construction provided, the cover plate 32 may take different forms, each adapted to make most advantageous use'of structural materials having different physical characteristics. In the form first illustrated, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the cover plate 32 preferably is made from a suitable plastic or fibrous material. In order to provide it with the desired strength and rigidity, the cover plate when made of such material is designed to have considerable thickness and is attached to the casing'frame in a special manner. In this instance, each end of the cover plate, Fig. 3, is provided with a marginal ledge 34 extending inwardly therefrom to have closely interfitting abutting engagement with the inner face of the contiguous end plate' l9. A marginal flange or rib 35 is also formed on each ledgei34 of the cover plate 32 in substantially perpendicular relation to the ledges for interfltting or overlapping engagement with the marginal flange 2| of the contiguous end plate 19. As shown, the cover plate flanges 35 are of substantially the same width as the end plate flanges 2i, and are inwardly offset in relation to the body of the cover plate to .cause the latter to be slightly-elevated relative to the adjacent casing parts.

The opposite downwardly extending side edges 36 of the cover plate 32 are suitably joined to the opposed side rails I1. As shown in Fig. 4, the edges 36 are somewhat thickened and are provided with longitudinal tongues 38 of reduced Width extending the length of the plate. These tongues are tightly fitted into grooves 39 in the top edges of the side rails and the thickened edges 36 are brought into abutting engagement with the side rails so as to form a sturdy and dust tight connection between the parts.

The outer peripheries a: the cover plate flanges 35 together with the adjacent ends of the side rails I! form convenient supports for end shells '40, one of which is disposed on each end of the advantageous result.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, each shell is formed to present an upper inner edge 42 having the same contourJas the contiguous cover plate fiange 35 and disposed in overlapping relation therewith. The shell edge 42, cover plate flange 35, and the underlying end plate flange 2| are rigidly fastened together by rivets 43 extending through the three members or by other suitable fastening means. Each end shell 40 extends downwardly substantially to the lower edges or the side rails l1 and is attached at its lower inner corners to the contiguous ends of the side rails by means of tab-like extensions 45 on the end shells, Figs. 5 and 6. These extensions run along the side rails and are fastened thereto by screws or the like.

The central portions of the end shells 40 bulge outwardly from the end plates I!) to form downwardly open spaces for the sweeper floor wheels and cooperating sweeper parts. A vertical indentation 46, Figs. 1, 2, 3, andfi, is formed in the midportion of eachshell 40 and extends somewhat over half-way down the side of the shell from the upper shell edge. The previously mentioned dust pan control springs 25 protrude outwardly through vertical slots 41 in the respective shells into the indentations 46, Figs. 2 and 6, so that the handle sections '26 of the springs are conveniently accessible to the user for dumping the dust pans Hi. It will be observed that the handles 26 are at the same time protected by the surroundingportions of the end shells 40 so that they are not exposed to mar furniture, or the like, while the sweeper is in use.

A resilient rubber-like bearing" is provided in each end shell at the lower end of its indentation 46 to pivotally mount the free end of an associated one of the arms 50 of the ball 13, Fig. 3. The pivotal connection of the parts is effected by means of short inwardly extending stub axles or trunnions 5i fixedly attached to the ends of the protection to furniture from the bail arms 50 even though the bail is mounted on the sweeper in such a manner that it can be easily detached therefrom. The shells are shaped to present flat sides 53 on the shell side walls lying below the bearings 48 and extending outwardly a considerable distance beyond the bearings, Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Additional protection against marring of fur niture by the sweeper parts is afforded by a rubber bumper 55 which is secured to the lower sides 53 of the end shells 40 and to the side rails H to extend horizontally entirely around the sweeper casing ll.

Free pivotal movement of the bail arms 50 is provided for by inwardly offsetting the upper shell side portions 54 above the bearings 48 relative to the lower protruding sides 53.

To further enhance the appearance of the casing and to provide additional space for the floor wheels [4, the upper limits of the protruding shell sides 53 are arched upwardly on oposite sides of the bearings 48, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Reviewing the features of the casing, it is evident that a number of functional advantages are realized from the invention. For example, the specific configuration of the end shells 40 serves to cooperate with the sweeper bail [3 in a manner whereby marring of furniture by the bail is prevented. In this connection, it will be noted that even though the bail I3 is shielded by the casing, the bail is pivotally attached to the easing in a manner which eliminates objectionable bail slots which are commonly provided in conventional sweeper casings. Provision is made at the same time for permitting the bail [3 to be readily attached to and detached from the casing H. Moreover, the configuration of the casing affords ready access to the dust pan control handles 26.

The sweeper parts are especially designed for fast and economical fabrication. Because of this and the ease with which they are fitted together in the course of assembly of the casing, the cost of the sweeper casing is favorably reduced.

In this connection it i well to note that the parts of the casing are so designed that the cover plate 32 may be manufactured in different forms without requiring any modification of the remaining casing parts. Where it is desirable to fabricate the cover plate from sheet metal instead of plastic material, or the like, the plate may take the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The sweeper parts reappearing in Figs. 7 and 8 are the same as those in Figs. 1 to 6, except for the cover plate, and are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of primes.

The sheet metal cover plate 51, although somewhat thinner than the previously described plastic cover plate 32, is designed to have the same general configuration as the plastic plate. The opposite side edge portions 58 of the plate 5'! are designed to fit into the side rail grooves 33 to have firm engagement with the outer edges of the grooves. The opposite, curved ends of the plate 5'! are provided with inwardly offset flanges 60 which fit under the adjacent edge portions 42' of the end shells 40. The flanges 6i! are, of course, thinner than the corresponding flanges 35 of the plastic cover plate 32 and do not, of themselves, entirely fill the space between the shell edges 42 and the marginal flanges 2| of the end plate l9. The space between these parts is filled by a strip El inserted between the cover flange 653 and the plate flange 2!. The parts are then fastened together in the same manner as that employed when the first form of cover is used.

The outward appearance of the sweeper casing can become quite significant where the sweeper is produced on a mass production basi and are of special importance where the supply of various construction materials is uncertain.

I claim as my invention:

\ 1. A carpet sweeper casing of the class described comprising, in combination, two vertical end plates disposed in spaced relation to each other, two side rails disposed horizontally across opposite sides of said casing, said rails each being attached to the contiguous edges of said end plates and having a longitudinal groove defined in the upper edge thereof, an upwardly bowed cover plate having opposite ends secured to the upper edges of said respective end plates and having opposite side edges disposed in abutting engagement with said upper edges of said respective side rails and interfitted into said grooves therein, and two outwardly bulging end shells on opposite ends of said sweeper, each of said shells having a curved inner edge disposed in overlying relation to the contiguous end of said cover plate, the lower inner corners of said shells being securely fastened to the contiguous side rail end portions, each of said shells presenting a fiat vertical portion along its lower side edge extending outwardly in protective relation to cooperating sweeper parts, the upper portions of said shells above said lower portions thereof being offset substantially inwardly of the respective lower portions, and a sweeper bail bearing in said inwardly offset portion of each of said shells and disposed immediately above the lower portion of the shell to mount a bail arm in protected relationship thereto.

2. A carpet sweeper casing of the class described comprising, in combination, two vertical end plates disposed in spaced relation to each other and having arched top edges, marginal flanges on the upper and side edges of said plates, two side rails disposed horizontally across opposite sides of said casing and attached to the contiguous side flanges of said end plates, a longitudinal groove defined in the upper edge of each of said side rails; an upwardly bowed, generally rectangular cover plate having ribs on opposite ends thereof disposed in overlying relation to said marginal flanges on the upper edges of said respective end plates; opposite side edges of said cover plate being thickened and disposed in abutting engagement with the upper edges of said respective side rails and having tongues thereon interfitted into said rail grooves, two downwardly extending ledges on opposite ends of said cover plate disposed in abutting engagement with said respective end plates, and two outwardly bulging end shell on opposite ends of said casing, each of said shells having a curved inner edge disposed in overlying relation to the contiguous cover plate flange, fastening means securing together said overlapped end plate and shell fianges and cover plate ribs, the lower inner corners of said shells being securely fastened to the contiguous side rails, each of said shells presenting a flat vertical portion on its lower side edge, said lower portion extending outwardly in protective relation to cooperating sweeper parts, the upper portions of said shells being offset substantially inwardly of the respective lower portions, a sweeper ball bearing in the said inwardly offset portion of each of said shells and disposed immediately above the lower portion thereof, and said bearings being adapted to mount bail arms in protected relationship to said lower portions.

BERTHOLD R. THIELE.

Name Date Noyes May '7, 1878 Number Number Name Date Morrison et al Feb. 25, 1908 Halladay Oct. 6, 1908 Owen Aug. 17, 1926 Kircher Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 14, 1936 

